WikiLeaks: I nuke, therefore I’m Iran

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With Arab states adopting the phrase “existential threat” when referring to Iran, is it time to look beyond the jargon?

The cables published this week by WikiLeaks reveal that senior figures in the
United Arab Emirates and Egypt refer to Iran as an “existential threat”.
That phrase dominates Israeli discussions about Iran’s nuclear programme. It
is notable that Arab diplomats adopt the same language.

The notion of an existential threat is common in political debate. As Foreign
Secretary, David Miliband referred to climate change and nuclear
proliferation as “great existential threats”. Tony Blair has spoken often of
terrorism as an existential threat to the West.

Existential means “relating to existence”. A threat is existential if it
threatens the existence of